535d which year
Discussion
Hi, I have around £12.500 and I think after reading reports that a 535d touring is the car for me, the question is what year do I look for. I believe that the latter modles are more powerfull and have an eight speed auto box, but what year did these changes happen and are they worth having. At the moment in my price range cars with reasonable milage 75000 ish seem to be about 2005-2006. Any tips appreciated.
Cheers,
Rob.
Cheers,
Rob.
Hello.
There were no mechanical changes for the car from it's release in 2004 until it was revised from their 'build dates' of March 2007.
The change is called a LCI - or Life Cycle Impulse. All very corporate.
From this date you will get the updated E60/1 and the newer engine and gearbox. It is still a 6 speed ZF one but just a little more user friendly and a tad more ecomomical.
The 8 speed ZF gearbox came out with the F10/1 last year.
With your budget you will be getting a pre LCI car, or a very leggy LCI.
There were no mechanical changes for the car from it's release in 2004 until it was revised from their 'build dates' of March 2007.
The change is called a LCI - or Life Cycle Impulse. All very corporate.
From this date you will get the updated E60/1 and the newer engine and gearbox. It is still a 6 speed ZF one but just a little more user friendly and a tad more ecomomical.
The 8 speed ZF gearbox came out with the F10/1 last year.
With your budget you will be getting a pre LCI car, or a very leggy LCI.
Fox- said:
Can't see this budget being big enough to buy anything other than a pain in the neck 535d wise.
I'd agree with that, especially as OP is looking for an E61 touring which are relatively rare and therefore command a small premium over an E60 saloon.£12.5k is well towards the bottom and therefore early, high miles 535d.
I'd up the budget to £16k minimum and look for an LCI car, or consider a 530d.
Robmilford said:
Hi,
Looking on Auto trader I can get an 06 535d with 60000 on the clock for £12000, I was thinking that this age and milage should still give me a solid reliable car that I can keep up till around 110000 miles. Is this not the case?
Buy one with under 60k on the clock and take out the BMW Comprehensive Warranty for it and it'll cost BMW money instead of you and might be worth doing. But the pre LCI 535d doesnt deliver diesel style economy so I struggle to see the value in it really.Looking on Auto trader I can get an 06 535d with 60000 on the clock for £12000, I was thinking that this age and milage should still give me a solid reliable car that I can keep up till around 110000 miles. Is this not the case?
The 535d is an economical car when driven like a diesel. When sitting at 70mph I can see 44mpg consistently.
However, when pressing on it will drink fuel like any other 3 litre car. Remembering it weighs nearly 2 tonnes and has 2 turbos, the smallest spoiling up from idle.
My previous E39 M5 gave me 280 miles from it's 70litre tank, the 535d gives me in excess of 450 miles to a tank day to day with my measly 11 mile commute.
Doing bigger mileages in one hit will increase your tanks range accordingly.
Personally I didn't buy it wholly for it's economy, I bought it as I drive a 2008 530d at work and I like the engine and I understand how it delivers. I like the way it is so user friendly, the grunt being down low in the revs, which is just where u want it and yet the fact it will out drag a 530i in a straight line.
I bought a 2005 535d that was on 71k, FBMWSH , 14 months later it's on 85k and it's still running perfectly. (touch wood) and, fuel prices etc what they are I intend to keep it as long as possible. the only money I've so far spent on it is regular servicing and stuff I've had done to keep it fresh.
Your only challenge is finding a well looked after example, which shouldn't be hard but may take time.
However, when pressing on it will drink fuel like any other 3 litre car. Remembering it weighs nearly 2 tonnes and has 2 turbos, the smallest spoiling up from idle.
My previous E39 M5 gave me 280 miles from it's 70litre tank, the 535d gives me in excess of 450 miles to a tank day to day with my measly 11 mile commute.
Doing bigger mileages in one hit will increase your tanks range accordingly.
Personally I didn't buy it wholly for it's economy, I bought it as I drive a 2008 530d at work and I like the engine and I understand how it delivers. I like the way it is so user friendly, the grunt being down low in the revs, which is just where u want it and yet the fact it will out drag a 530i in a straight line.
I bought a 2005 535d that was on 71k, FBMWSH , 14 months later it's on 85k and it's still running perfectly. (touch wood) and, fuel prices etc what they are I intend to keep it as long as possible. the only money I've so far spent on it is regular servicing and stuff I've had done to keep it fresh.
Your only challenge is finding a well looked after example, which shouldn't be hard but may take time.
Thanks for the info, I am still wondering about the other posters who seem to be saying not to buy an older car as it may be unreliable or make sure you get a waranty. I have a 2001 330SE tourer petrol at the moment and have had it 4 years and its been very reliable. I believe that the diesel engine is more complicated but I would have thought it was pritty reliable providing I look for a well maintained car, or is there more to it?
Robmilford said:
Hi, reading the link it sounds like they are reliable, however I'm thinking of uping my budget to around £14,500 which I think will get me a 2008 with around 70000 on the clock.
Presume you mean an LCI car (07 onwards) which I would agree is a sensible move if you can afford it, from a quick glance on autotrader £14.5k won't quite get you that unless you are happy with an SE?If you want an LCI MSport with 70k miles I think £16k is more realistic budget and that is still low end. £17k would provide better choice. There is still a price jump of about £2k for LCI.
ETA: Just noticed in your OP you are after a touring E61. Add £1k to all the above, they are relatively rare.
Can you get a 535d SE? I've never seen one. Agree that I would have thought a good LCI E60 535d with less than 100k on clock would be £16k upwards, but happy to be proved wrong. Suggest you at least try a 530d. I have one and am very happy with it. The LCI cars are approx 240 bhp, so very respectable performance, which can be increased further with a remap for a few hundred pounds if you really need it. They are a bit less money, and there is more choice out there. Good luck whichever way you go. I am on my second E61, they are great cars.
TackleburyUk said:
Having owned a SE 530d and the M Sport 535d i would never go back to a SE.
Heavy steering, crap specs, don't look as nice etc...
The M Sport is such a better handling car in my book.
The steering is not different between SE and M Sport. There isn't much of a spec difference either - it's all cosmetic and suspension.Heavy steering, crap specs, don't look as nice etc...
The M Sport is such a better handling car in my book.
Neil.D said:
The 535d is an economical car when driven like a diesel. When sitting at 70mph I can see 44mpg consistently.
I can't understand the above coment, and many I see like it regarding BMW diesels.I can almost match you with an E39 528i SE auto, obviously without any of the diesel issues.
What part do you not 'understand'? I can't make it much clearer.
My wifes 10 year old ford focus 1.6 in gaul bladder green beats my 535d for economy but in the same token as your E39, I wouldn't want one.
I'm not a pro diesel person by any means but the fact is that to some the 535d offers an attractive mix of power and economy, simple.
My wifes 10 year old ford focus 1.6 in gaul bladder green beats my 535d for economy but in the same token as your E39, I wouldn't want one.
I'm not a pro diesel person by any means but the fact is that to some the 535d offers an attractive mix of power and economy, simple.
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